Nine

Sarah shut her eyes for a moment and exhaled, a rush of memory over whelming her.

He had always been so organized, always attending to the smallest of details.

She should have known he'd find a way to occupy John if he wanted to see her alone.

When she opened her eyes he was idly examining a book on her bedside table.

No more romantic novels?"

He asked, holding up the book, a rather dry

discussion of the study of astronomy.

Her chin lifted a fraction of an inch.

I don't enjoy romantic novels any longer.

William continued to flip through the pages of the book.

I had no idea you so enjoyed astronomy.

Sarah swallowed,not about to tell him that the moon and stars made her feel closer to him.

Or rather, closer to the person she'd thought he'd been.

My lord,

She said with a sigh.

Why are you doing this?

He shrugged and sat on her small bed.

Doing what?

"This!

She threw up her arms.

Coming to my room.

Sitting on my bed.

She blinked, as if just realizing what he was doing.

You're on my bed.

For God's sake,get off my bed.

He smiled slowly.

Make me.

"I am not so infantile that you can rile me with such a challenge.

"No?

He leaned back against her pillows and crossed his ankles.

Don't worry.

My boots are clean.

Sarah's eyes narrowed, and then she picked up the basin full of water she used for washing and dumped it on his head and chest.

I take that back, she said acidly.

I can be quite childish when the occasion warrants."

"Good, woman!"

Edward sputtered, leaping off the bed.

Water ran in rivulets down his face, soaking his cravat and shirt.

Sarah leaned against the wall and crossed her arms, quite pleased with her

handiwork.

Do you know,she said with a satisfied smile,but I think that all might be right with the world after all."

"Don't you dare, he roared, try a stunt like that again!"

And do what?

Impugn your honor?

I wasn't aware you had any.

He advanced on her with menacing steps. Sarah probably would have taken

the cowardly way out and retreated, but her back was already up against the

wall.

You, he said savagely,are going to be extremely sorry you did that.

Sarah couldn't help it.

She giggled.

Edward,"she said, lapsing into the familiar.

Nothing could ever make me sorry I did that. For the rest of my life I will treasure this moment.

Treasure it.

In fact, this may very well be the one

thing I am least sorry—"

Sarah," he said, his voice deadly.

Shut up.

She did, but she didn't stop smirking.

He closed the space between them until he was just a heart beat away.

If you are going to get me wet, he said, his voice dropping into a husky murmur, "then

you are damn well going to dry me off.

Sarah scooted to the side.

Perhaps a towel…

I'd be happy to lend you mine.

He moved so that he was right in front of her again, and touched her chin with

his fingers.

His body was hot, but his eyes were even hotter. I've waited a life time for this, he whispered, pressing his body against hers.

The water from his clothing soaked into Sarah's dress,but she didn't feel anything but the heat from his body.

Don't," she whispered.

Don't do this."

His eyes held a strange desperation.

I can't help it, he said hoarsely.

God help me, I can't help it.

His lips came down toward hers with agonizing slowness.

He hovered for a moment when he was just a hair breadth away, as if he was trying to hold himself back at the last moment.

Then, with stunning swiftness, his hands left her arms and moved to the back of her head, binding her lips to his.

Edward planted his hands into her thick hair, unmindful of the way her hairpins

were clattering to the floor.

It felt just the same silky and heavy, and the scent of it was enough to drive him wild.

He murmured her name over and over,

for getting for a moment that he hated her,that she'd abandoned him years ago, that she was the reason his heart had been dead for long years.

He relied on instinct alone, and his body could do nothing but recognize that she was his Dior, and she was in his arms, and she belonged there.

He kissed her savagely, trying to drink in enough of her essence to make up for all their lost years.

His hands clutched at her, roving over her body, trying to remember and memorize each curve.

Dior, he murmured, trailing his lips down the line of her neck.

I've never…No other woman…

Sarah let her head loll back, all reason having fled with the first touch of his

lips.

She'd thought she'd forgotten what it felt like to be held in his arms, to feel the touch of his lips on her skin.

But she hadn't.

Every touch was achingly familiar and startlingly exciting.

And when he lowered her onto her bed,she couldn't even think to protest.

The weight of his body pressed her into the mattress, and one of his hands

wrapped around her calf, squeezing and caressing its way up past her knee.

"I'm going to love you, Dior, Edward said fiercely.

I'm going to love you until you can't move.

I'm going to love you until you can't think.

His hand traveled ever higher, reaching the hot skin of her upper thigh where her stockings ended.

I'm going to love you the way I should have before."

Sarah groaned with pleasure.

She'd spent seven long years without so much

as a hug, and she was starved for physical affection. She had known what it was

like to be touched and kissed, and she had no idea how much she'd missed it

until that very moment. His hand moved, and she dimly realized that he was fumbling with his breeches, opening them and—

"Oh, God, no!" she cried out, pushing at his shoulders. In her mind's eye she

could see them from above.

Her legs were open, and Edward was settled between

them.

No, Edward, she said again, wriggling out from beneath him.

I can't.

"Don't do this,he warned, passion still glazing his eyes.

Don't tease me and.

"This is all you ever wanted, isn't it?

She demanded, darting off the bed.

All you ever wanted from me.

It was certainly one thing,he muttered, looking as if he were in pain.

God,I'm so stupid.

She crossed her arms across her chest in a defensive maneuver.

One would think I'd have learned my lesson by now.

"As one would think I'd have learned mine," he said bitterly.

"Please go.

He stopped on his way to the door, just to be contrary.

Please?

Such nice manners.

Edward, I'm asking you as politely as I know how.

But why ask me to leave?

He stepped toward her.

Why fight it,Dior?

You know you want me.

That's not the point!

Horrified,Sarah realized what she'd just revealed.

She wasn't sure how she managed to get the words out, but she forced herself to

lower her voice and said,

For the love of God, Edward, do you understand what you're doing?

I am within an inch of being dismissed from this post.

I cannot afford to lose it.

If you were to be found in my room,I would be tossed out on my ear.

"Really?

He looked intrigued by the prospect.

She spoke slowly, carefully measuring her words.

I realize that you do not harbor any wealth of good feelings toward me.

But for the sake of common decency, please leave!

She hated that she sounded as if she was begging, but she had no choice.

At the end of the house party, Edward would leave and resume his life.

This was her life.

He leaned forward, his blue eyes sharp and intent.

Why do you care?

You can't possibly love this position so much.

Sarah snapped.

She just snapped.

Of course I don't love this position.

Do you think I enjoy attending to the needs of the world's most monstrous five-year-old?

Do you think I enjoy being spoken to as if I were a dog by his mother?

Use your brain, Edward.

What there is of it, at least.

Edward ignored her insult.

Then why stay?

Because I don't have any choice!

She burst out.

Do you have any idea what it is like not to have any choices?

Do you?

No, of course you don't.

She turned her back to him, unable

to face him while she was shaking with emotion.

"Why don't you marry?

"Because I—"

She swallowed.

How could she say that she had never married

because she knew no man could ever live up to him?

Even if his entire courtship of her had been false, it had been perfect, and she knew that she would never find anyone who could make her as happy as she'd been those two short months.

"Just go,she said, her words barely audible.Go.

"This isn't over, Dior.

She ignored his pointed use of her nickname.

It has to be over.

It should never

have begun."

Edward stared at her a full minute.

You're different,he finally said.

"I am not the same girl you tried to take advantage of, if that is what you

mean.

She stood straight and tall.

It has been Some years, Edward.

I am a different person now.

As, apparently, are you."

Edward left the room without another word, swiftly making his way from the servants' quarters to the guest wing where he'd been given a room.

What the hell had he been thinking?

He hadn't been.

That could be the only explanation.

Why else would he arrange for Sarah's charge to be entertained all morning and then steal into her room?

"Because she makes me feel alive,he whispered to himself.

He couldn't remember the last time his senses were so finely tuned, the last time he'd felt such an exquisitely heady rush.

No, that wasn't entirely true.

He remembered all too well.

It had been the last time he'd held her in his arms.

Some year's ago.

It was some consolation to learn that those years had not brought her

happiness, either.

She had been a scheming adventuress, intent upon marrying into a fortune, but all she had found was a miserable position as a governess.

Circumstances had certainly brought her low. He might be dead inside, but at least he had the freedom to do what he wanted when he wanted to do it.

Sarah was desperately trying to hold on to a livelihood she hated, always fearing that

she'd be tossed out without a reference.

That was when it occurred to him.

He could have her and his revenge,too.

His body sang at the thought of holding her in his arms, of kissing every inch of that delectable body.

His mind raced at the idea that they might be discovered by Sarah's employers, who would then never allow her to watch over their precious John.

Sarah would be cut adrift.

He doubted she would return to her father.

She had too much pride for that.

No, she would be all alone, with no one to turn to.

Except him.

He would need a very good plan this time.

Edward had spent two hours lying motionless on his bed, ignoring knocks on

the door, ignoring the clock that told him that breakfast was no longer being served.

He'd simply put his hands behind his head, looked up at the ceiling, and started to scheme.

If he was going to woo Sarah into his bed, he would have to charm her there.

This was not a problem.Edward had spent the last some years in America,and he certainly knew how to be charming.